London, United Kingdom: Moving from one of the world's biggest private equity houses to a value-add specialist is a statement of intent for both sides. Harbert European Real Estate (HERE), the European real estate investment platform of real assets-focused alternatives manager Harbert Management Corporation (HMC), has appointed Lennard Gehrmann as a vice president in its investment team. Based in London, he will work with colleagues in the platform's London, Paris and Madrid offices on sourcing, underwriting and executing investments across its target markets.
Gehrmann joins from KKR, where he was a principal in its Real Estate Private Equity division, working on transactions for its European core-plus and value-add strategies. That experience spans the UK, Ireland, France, Germany and the Nordics, and covered sourcing, underwriting and transaction execution. Before KKR he spent close to three years at Cerberus Capital Management, working on real estate private equity and non-performing loan acquisitions.
The hire adds capacity as HERE pursues opportunities in operational living, including student housing and flexible living, multi-let industrial and powered land for data centres. The platform focuses on selected markets where demand is resilient and new supply is constrained, combining local sourcing relationships with a pan-European view of relative value, and centres its approach on disciplined entry pricing and value creation through active asset management.
"Attracting talented professionals is central to strengthening our team and deepening our pan-European investment coverage. Lennard's experience across European markets will complement the knowledge and relationships of our local teams. We see selective opportunities emerging in our target markets, and his appointment adds capacity to assess those opportunities rigorously and execute our investment plans." said Florent Danset, senior managing director and co-head of European real estate at Harbert Management Corporation.
For Gehrmann, the draw was the platform and its people. "HMC's established European platform, track record and entrepreneurial culture were key attractions for me. I was particularly drawn to the experience and continuity of the team and its disciplined approach to investing. I look forward to contributing to the sourcing, underwriting and execution of investments across Europe, drawing on my experience in the UK, France and Germany." said Lennard Gehrmann, vice president at Harbert Management Corporation.
The appointment follows Matilda Williams's appointment as managing director and head of European capital formation in July 2026. Williams joined from AEW and leads client engagement for HMC's real asset strategies, including European and US real estate, power and seniors housing. HMC, formed in 1993, manages approximately €6.9bn in regulatory assets under management as of 31 October 2026. HERE, founded in 2002, is one of Europe's longest-tenured value-add real estate investors, with offices in the UK, France and Spain.
People mentioned
- Lennard Gehrmann, Vice President, Harbert Management Corporation (HERE investment team), formerly Principal, Real Estate Private Equity, KKR
- Florent Danset, Senior Managing Director and Co-Head of European Real Estate, Harbert Management Corporation
- Matilda Williams, Managing Director and Head of European Capital Formation, Harbert Management Corporation, formerly of AEW
Companies mentioned
- Harbert European Real Estate, European real estate investment platform of Harbert Management Corporation and employer of Lennard Gehrmann
- Harbert Management Corporation, real assets-focused alternative asset manager and parent of HERE
- KKR, global investment firm and former employer of Lennard Gehrmann
- Cerberus Capital Management, investment firm and former employer of Lennard Gehrmann
- AEW, real estate investment manager and former employer of Matilda Williams
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